Derby Cathedral Tower Open Day 2015

We have all heard the bells ringing as we pass a church or cathedral, but have you ever wondered how it’s done?

Derby Cathedral would like to invite you to find out more about this unique form of music-making at its annual Bellringers’ Tower Open Day, which is taking place on Bank Holiday Easter Monday 6th April.

All through the day, visitors to the Cathedral will be able to tour the tower, watch change ringing demonstrations and try ringing a real bell under careful supervision.

Developed in England in the 17th century, change ringing is a unique form of music-making, which forms a significant part of English culture. Yet it remains taken for granted by most people – for instance, have you ever thought how people ring a bell weighing the equivalent of a car with such acute accuracy?

Doors to the Cathedral tower will be open from 10am – 4:00pm. Only the over eights will be admitted, £3 adults. £2 for children.

Visitors on the 11.30am tower climb will also get the chance to watch and hear the mechanism that uses levers and hammers to play tunes on the Cathedral's bells.

Derby Cathedral boasts ten bells in its tower one of which was cast in 1520, during the reign of Henry VIII, and is still in use almost 500 years later, making it one of the oldest working objects in Derby.